Retractable antenna housing or radome



Feb. 15, 1955 H. A. EVANS ET AL RETRACTABLE ANTENNA HOUSING OR RADOME Filed March 23, 1953 5 Shets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

Howard A. Evans 8: Charles E. Gagnier IN V EN TORS THEIR PATENT AGENT Feb. 15, 1955 H. A. EVANS ET AL RETRACTABLE ANTENNA HOUSING OR RADOME 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1953 Howard A Evans 8: Charles E.- Gagnier JNVENTORS AGENT THEIR PA TENT Feb. 15, 1955 H. A. EVANS ET AL 2,702,346

RETRACTABLE ANTENNA HOUSING OR RADOME Filed March 23, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 r-: j 5O 5"IIE: 49 4a 5! 23 7 4 5 F 24 Y 55:: ,53 i 52 47 I I 5 N 54 5 62 i t 55 /5 Fig. 4

Howard A. Evans 81 Charles E. Gagnier INVENTORS THEIR PATENT AGENT Feb. 15, 1955 Filed March 25, 1955 H. A. EVANS ET AL RETRACTABLE ANTENNA HOUSING OR RADOME 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Hbward A. Evans 8: Charles E. Gagnier INVENTORS BY mg THEIR PA TENT AGENT Feb. 15, 1955 H. A. EVANS ET AL RETRACTABLE ANTENNA HOUSING OR RADOME Filed March 23, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5, Howard A. Evans & Charles E. Gagnier IN VEN T 0R5 THE IR PA TEN T AGENT Unite States RETRACTABLE ANTENNA HOUSING OR RADOME Application March 23, 1953, Serial No. 343,890

16 Claims. (Cl. 250 -33) This invention relates to an antenna housing installation wherein the housing is adapted to be retracted from its normally operative position to a stowed position within the structure on which it is mounted. It is more particularly concerned with the problem of stowing such a housing in space smaller than the normal size of the housing and this may be accomplished by forming the housing shell of alterable parts which can be collapsed or telescoped or nested one within the other prior to retraction.

Present day practice in the mounting of such housings on vehicles, particularly military types such as airplanes having search and detection missions, which utilize radar systems and house the antenna in a radome, requires the radome to be carried externally and being of considerable bulk it presents a serious problem from the standpoint of placement as well as from that of increase of aerodynamic drag. In known instances the greatest overall dimension of the radome is equal to or greater than the width of the body on which it is carried. While it is possible to tolerate these undesirable factors as an unavoidable accompaniment of an operative radar system, nevertheless, it is highly desirable to reduce or eliminate them and this can be done at least when the radar system is inoperative such as might be the case when the airplane is enroute to or from its ground base and a patrol station or area, or as might be the case when attempting to avoid interception by hostile units. In such situations high speed and/or conservation of the fuel supply is very desirable and consequently if the projecting bulk of the radome can be eliminated such as by stowing it within the interior of the airplane, then much better performance of the airplane can be obtained.

In connection with a radome installation of this type, it is highly desirable to provide power operated means for retracting and extending the radome, for folding and unfolding its parts, for rotating the radome with its contained reflector and horn during scanning and for operating doors controlling the opening in the airplanes skin through which the radome passes upon retraction or extension. These operations may be accomplished by an operating system providing an automatic sequencing of the operating phases just mentioned as well as operation in proper sequence of certain locking mechanisms.

Additional objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds to reveal the preferred embodiment which however is merely illustrative of one possible way of accomplishing the desired results.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a cross-sectional view of a body showing a hollow interior space and the mounting of a radome in relation thereto so as to be movable from an exterior position to stowed attitude within the space;

Figure 2 is a view looking downwardly in Figure 1 on the radome and its mount;

Figure 3 is a side view of the radome;

Figure 3A is a detailed enlargement of the indicated portion of Figure 3;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the mounting tracks and drive mechanism for the radome halves;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is another fragmentary view, taken on the line 66 of Figure Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of multiple slip-ring structure taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 10;

atent Figure 8 is a system diagram showing the interconnection of the operating units associated with the radome;

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the portion of Figure 8 enclosed by dotted lines; and

Figure 10 is another view similar to Figure 4 taken at another location to show a latch mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, and beginning with Fig. 1 thereof, the numeral 12 designates generally a hollow body structure which might be the fuselage of an airplane. This is formed with the usual framing members covered by an external skin sheet. The portion shown might conveniently represent the cross-section at a bomb bay location in a conventional bomber type of airplane specially equipped for radar work by having radar equipment installed in the bomb bay or it might as readily represent any hollow body portion in a vehicle or other structure upon which an antenna housing such as a radome is mounted and into which it is intended that it be retracted at certain times. At any rate the structure has interior space to receive the radome and an opening in the skin structure leading to the space, the opening preferably being equipped with doors 13.

The radome 14 is formed generally as a hollow bulbous shell consisting of two separate portions 15 and 16 which interfit and together form the complete radome. The portion 16 is built to similar form but slightly larger dimension than the portion 15 such that if placed one within the other, they will nest and appear as half of the complete radome shell whereas when placed in opposed relation as seen in Figures 1 and 2 they will complement each other and form a complete body which is substantially a body of revolution. As is well known, the radome shell merely forms a protective housing and support for the radar antenna system which essentially comprises a reflector 17 and a horn 18. The reflector is contained in the portion 15 and is aflixed thereto to attain mutual support and ensure that no relative movement will occur between them. The radome portions may be made of any suitable materials subject principally to strength requirements and the necessity that no impediment be offered to the passage of high frequency radiations proceeding from or to the reflector 17.

For additional support purposes the radome portions may have a pivot interconnection 19 at the lowermost point on the vertical axis extending through the radome 14. Additional support and guidance is obtained for the uper edges of the radome portions 15 and 16 by means of two tracks 20 and 21, one being provided for each radome portion as appears to better advantage in the detail of Figures 3 and 4. The tracks 20 and 21 are formed in the periphery of a circular casting 22 which includes a number of inwardly projecting lugs through which it is bolted as at 23 to a gear box 24. Each such bolted connection 23 includes a bracket 25 as best appears in Figure 4 which attaches by permanent connection to respective box beams 26 or 27 which in plan form have a special shape as appears in Figure 2. In the central portion of their length these beams are joined by a pair of spaced intercostal members 28 which lend rigidity to the frame and this organization which has just been described provides the direct support of the radome 14. And as may be seen from Figures 1 and 3, the beam 26 has a downwardly offset intermediate portion which slants the intercostals 28 and gear box 24 from the horizontal to give a forward tilt to the otherwise vertical axis of the radome. The support frame just described is pivotally mounted in the fuselage 12. This is accomplished, as appears in Figures 1 and 2, by pivots 29 in the ends of the beams 26 and 27, which pivots have connection to fixed structure 30. At their opposite ends, the beams 26 and 27 are fitted with latch dogs 31. When the support frame and radome are in the down or extended position, the latch dogs 31 are engaged by the retractable keepers of latches 32 so that the frame will be held locked in horizontal position wherein the attached radome is extended in operating position outside of the radome. On the other hand, when the support frame is pivoted upwardly into the vertical position shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, then the latch dogs 31 will be engaged by the retractable keepers of up-latches 33.

Raising and lowering of the support frame may be accomplished by suitable well known means and is shown in Figures 1-3 as being accomplished by a pair of expansible chamber hydraulic motors 34 which pivotally connect at their lower ends as to 35 to the respective box beams 26 or 27. Likewise the upper ends 36 pivotally connect to fixed structure such as the vertical framing members 30. Similar motorized operation of the doors 13 can be obtained using hydraulic motors as is indicated at 37 in Figure 8.

Turning now to a more detailed examination of the mounting of the radome shell portions 15 and 16 on the tracks 20 and 21 respectively, reference is made particularly to Figures 4, 6 and which show a typical group of a circular series of roller supports. As best appears in Figure 6. each group consists of three rollers, two vertically disposed ones 38 and one horizontal roller 39 located in between the other two. The horizontally disposed rollers 39, as can be seen, bear against the inner wall of the tracks 20 or 21 while the vertically disposed rollers roll on the horizontal flange portions of the tracks 20 or 21 lying below the rollers. The rollers of each group are carried by a plate 40 of arcuate shape centered on the vertical axis of the radome 14. This plate in turn is connected by integral fingers 41 by means of bolts or the like to similar fingers 42 which are integral with a second arcuate plate 43 which attaches, in the case of the roller groups running in track 20 to a channel member 44 forming a part of the framing of the radome shell part 15. Likewise the plates 43 of the roller groups operating in track 21 attach by bolting or otherwise to a channel 45 forming a part of the framing of the radome shell part 16.

In addition to being bolted together, the fingers 41 and 42 associated with the support of the radome half 16 carrv upstanding posts 46 supporting a ring gear 47 which has its center coincident with the vertical axis of the radome. The ring gear is thus rigidly connected to the radome half 16 and when one rotates about the radome vertical axis which is its actual axis of rotation, the other will necessarily rotate therewith, the actual fact being that the ring gear 47 drives the radome half 16 whenever it is rotated. This drive is accomplished by a reversible electric motor 48 which is supported on the beam 26 by a pivoted yoke linka e. This consists of a bracket 49 attached to beam 26 which pivotally supports a bifurcated yoke or link 50. This link in turn connects at spaced points 51 to the casing of the motor 48.

The drive from the motor 48 may proceed through a gear box 52 which has its casing formed with bifurcated arms 53 which each terminate in a flanged roller 54. These rollers bear on the inner side of ring gear 47 and the flanges thereof bear on the too and bottom sides of the gear for the purpose of in part helping to support the ring gear and in part to keep it in mesh with a pinion 55 which transmits the power output of the gear box 52. Thus whenever the motor 48 is energized, it will rotate the pinion 55 to thus drive the ring gear 47 and also the structure attached thereto which is the radome half 1.6.

The installation also includes a main drive motor 56 for rotating the radome 14 with its enclosed reflector 17 and horn 18. This motor is operatively associated with the previously mentioned gear box 24 and, as best appears in Figure 3, the output shaft 57 of the gear box is hollow so that the wave guide for the horn 18 may pass therethrough in well known manner. Also it carries a structural member 58 which it drives in rotation and this structural member provides the support for the horn 18, the reflector 17 and the radome half and indirectly through the latter, it also supports the second radome half 16 since the two halves are connected together by the pivot 19.

As has been previously indicated, an important feature of the radome 14 is the fact that it is built in two halves so that the larger half 16 can be rotated with respect to the smaller half 15 into a position in which they are collapsed or nested one within the other to permit retraction. Normally they are not so nested and are driven in rotation as a unit and it is therefore necessary that a locking means he provided to latch the two halves together when they are to be rotated as a unit. The detail of one possible form of such a latch is shown in Figure 4. This latch 59 is of spring biased type released by operation of a solenoid. It may be attached to the framework structure of the radome half 16 and have associated latch plates 60 mounted on radome half 15 so that the latch pin 61 can enter the apertures therein when the radome halves are properly positioned rotationally, one with the other. As may be seen in Figure 3, there are two of the latch plates 60 designated 60a and 60b at diametrically opposite points which permits latching of the radome halves 15 and 16 in either the fully nested or fully closed positions. Obviously since electrical power for control and operation of the solenoid 59 must be supplied from a remote point and since the radome is rotatable, slip ring structure must be employed in this connection. In addition to this there are other electrical units carried on the rotatable radome, including certain control switches which will be more fully described later on herein. These also require electrical connections running from the rotatable to the fixed portions of the installation. In order to accommodate these electrical lines, a multielement slip ring structure 62 may be mounted on the track casting 22 just above the upper track 21. This may be made up of a number of conductive slip rings 63 separated by insulator rings 64 as appears in Figure 7. Each slip ring would have a permanently attached electrical lead 65 on the rear side while a brush 66 would contact it on the front face and as is shown in Figure 4, the brushes could be carried in brush holders 67 carried on the plates 40 of the roller carriages at suitable points.

Also because of the operation of the radome in rotation and the requirement that it be opened and the two halves nested before retraction can take place, it is necessary that an indexing or stop mechanism be provided to halt the rotation of the radome in the proper rotational position after the driving power is cut-off. The detail of one possible mechanism for this purpose is illustrated in Figure 10. Aflixed to the lower surface of the track casting 22 at a suitable point adjacent the rotational path of the radome half 15 is a remotely operated, spring extended solenoid consisting of the usual casing 68 and reciprocable plunger 69 operable therein. Also there is provided a cooperating lug 70 firmly attached to the structure of the radome half 15. This lug has a pocket 71 which can receive the end of the plunger 69 when the same is projected from the solenoid 68 upon actuation thereof and when the rotation of the radome 14 brings the pocket 71 in the lug opposite to the location of the solenoid. If desired, a tapered slot (not shown) may lead into the pocket 71 to facilitate entrance of the plunger as is a Well known practice.

An hydraulic-electrical system for operating the radome installation is illustrated in Figure 8. In addition to the hydraulic and electrical motors and solenoid operated latches previously described, the system includes various control switches, relays and solenoid operated valves which are generally of well known type and available commercially. The exact relationship and functioning of these additional items will be disclosed in the description of the operation of the system based on Figure 8 which is essentially diagrammatic in nature, particularly in respect to the showing of the multiple slip ring structure 62.

For operation of the electrical portion of the system power is obtained from a suitable source and is fed through a master switch 72 to a distribution bus bar or line 73. A first connection 74 from this distribution bus is made to a manually actuated switch 75. This switch is a normally-open type having two contact positions. When actuated to the contact 76 it initiates a sequence of operations which open the doors 13 and then extends the radome from retracted position, unfold the radome halves and then cause it to be driven in constant speed rotation. On the other hand if the switch is thrown to the second contact 77, then the sequence above is reversed so that rotation of the radome is first halted, the radome halves are then collapsed and retracted and then the doors are closed.

Assuming that the switch 75 is actuated so as to supply current to contact 76, the radome 14 then being fully retracted, current will then flow through lead 78 and through the coil of a relay 79 to ground. Relay 79 forms part of a compound interlocking relay 80 which is made the subject of Figure 9 where it appears to larger scale. The unit 79 is arranged so that it will attract a pivoted lever 81 when energized and move it counterclockwise about its pivot 82 against the resisting action of tension spring 83. When so moved it will assume the position shown in Figure 8 and will unblock a second lever 84 carried on a pivot 85. When thus unblocked, a tension spring 86 will move this second lever counterclockwise until an electrical contact 87 carried at the end of the lever 84 engages a contact 88. The contact 87 is connected at all times through a lead 89 to the bus bar 73. Therefore when connection is made with contact 88, current will flow through lead 90, through the coil of relay 91 which includes a normally closed switch 92 and this switch accordingly opens. Switch 92 is in the up control circuit for doors 13 and must be open when it is desired to open the doors. The current flow continues through lead 93 to a door control valve 94. This valve has connected to it supply and return conduits 95 and 96 running to a conventional source of hydraulic pressure. The selector valve 94 is thus caused to direct pressure flow into a branched conduit 97 to operate the motors 37 (only one of which is shown in Figure 8) to thereby open the doors 13.

As door 13 reaches the full open position, it contacts a spring biased, normally open plunger switch 99 which it closes. This switch closing allows current flowing through the coil of relay 91 to also flow through lead 100 through the coil of a relay 101. This relay includes a spring biased, normally closed switch 102 in the retract circuit of the radome. This switch must be open to permit extension of the radome. The current fiow continues through relay 101 to an electrically operated selector valve 103 and thence to ground. This current flow actuates the valve to direct pressure fluid from a supply conduit 104 into hydraulic line 105 leading to motors 34. The motors operate and cause lowering of the frame structure 262728 and consequently the attached radome which moves downwardly and outwardly to the extended position. A condition precedent to such movement would be the release of the up-locks 33 and it is assumed that this has been done by manual control of the operator. At the same time it is contemplated that the latches might alternately be released by electrical control tied into the present system. Furthermore, as the frame 262728 reaches the full down position, the down-latches 32 will automatically engage the dogs 31. Return hydraulic fluid flow from motors 34 will proceed via conduit 106 through valve 103 and return to the source through conduit 107.

The initial downward movement of the frame 262728 actuates a single-pole, double-throw switch 108. This appears in the right hand upper portion of Figure 8. It is moved to the position shown but as there is another open switch further along in the associated circuit, no further action immediately results. The final downward movement of the frame closes a double-pole, single-throw switch 109 which is of normally-open type. The upper pole of this switch, as may be seen, has direct connection to the power distribution bus 73, and current. fiow therefrom passes along lead 110 to one of the brushes 66a on the slip-ring structure 62. From the slipring this lead 110 continues to one contact of a doublepole, double-throw switch 111. This switch is mounted in the radome half 15 and it may therefor be seen that it is necessary to include the slip ring in the lead 110.

The switch 111 is a spring-biased, plunger actuated type with one pair of contacts being made when the other is open. Normally the contacts in the lead 110 are closed which occurs whenever the radome halves are not fully unfolded. Actuation of the switch 111 in opposition to the spring is accomplished by a cam element 112 efiixed to the larger radome half 16. As appears in the diagram of Figure 8, the cam is actuating the switch but at the point now being considered in this description, the radome halves are nested one within the other so that the cam is 180 away from the position shown and the contacts in lead 110 will therefore be bridged. Accordingly current flows on to one coil of the combination latch relay 59. Energization of this coil withdraws latch plunger 61 to unlock the radome halves. The unlatching movement of plunger 61 closes a single pole switch 113.

Switch 113 on closing establishes a circuit actuating motor 48 which drives radome half 16 in the clockwise direction. This circuit may be traced as follows:

A lead 114 starting at the distribution bus 73 runs through a brush and slip-ring set 66b through the switch 115 of a normally closed relay 116 and then through the coil 117 of a second normally closed relay. From thence lead 114 connects to switch 113 and then on to a slipring and brush set 66c from whence it reaches the motor 48. The ground lead from motor 48 is designated 118 and passes through the second pole of switch 109 to ground.

The current flow in passing through the coil of relay 117 opens its associated switch 119 which is in circuit with a second coil of solenoid 59 which in turn is in circuit with the reversing coils of motor 48.

When the clockwise movement of radome half 16 passes through 180 of angular movement, the radome is fully unfolded or in the position found in Figure 8. Then the cam 112 actuates the switch 111 so that the left-hand contacts will close while the right hand ones in the lead will open. This action cuts off the flow of current through solenoid 59 and the plunger 61 drops into engagement with latch plates 60 to lock the radome halves together. At the same time the switch 113 has been opened cutting off power from the motor 48.

The actuation of switch 111 just mentioned by closing of the left-hand contacts establishes another circuit running from lead 114. This circuit includes lead 120 running through switch 111 to a brush and slip-ring set 66d to the coil of solenoid 68. Energization of this coil retracts the plunger 69 from the socket 71 thus freeing the radome 14 to permit its rotation. The same current flow continues through main drive motor 56 which starts the radome in rotation. The current flow out of this motor continues through brush and slip-ring set 662 to a relay coil 121. This relay coil is arranged to have operative control over normally open switch 113 which as will be recalled is also operated at certain times by relaysolenoid 59. The current flow through coil 121 thus closes switch 113 and the flow continues through switch 122 of a normally closed relay 123 to ground.

The closing of switch 113 again establishes the circuit from lead 114 through relay switch 115, relay coil 117, and auxiliary motor 48 which thus becomes energized and assists motor 56 in driving the radome 14 at a steady rate of rotation without attention from the operator.

In order to stop the rotation of the radome and cause it to fold and be retracted, the attendant or operator need only to actuate the control switch 75 so that it directs a current flow through contact 77 and lead 124 to the second' relay coil 125 of the interlocking relay 80. With relay 125 energized, it will draw lever 84 upward to the position shown in Figure 9 so that current flow will then proceed from lead 89 through lever 84 and contact 87 thereon to contact 126. As the result of movement of lever 84 upward, the end of lever 81 will become unblocked and the action of spring 83 will cause it to pivot in clockwise movement until its upper end contacts the stop lug 84s. In this position lever 81 locks lever 84 in position so that in spite of the cessation of current flow through relay coil 125, the electrical connection between contacts 87 and 126 will be maintained.

The current flow from contact 126 will pass through a lead 127 to brush and slip-ring set 66 to a branch lead 128 connecting to the coils of normally closed relays 123 and 116 which are in series. Energization of these two relays opens their respective switches 122 and 115. If it is remembered that switch 122 is in the circuit of motor 56 and switch is in the one previously energized circuit of motor 48, then it should be apparent that the power will be cut off of these two motors and they will cease to drive the radome in rotation.

With interruption of current flow in line of motor 56 it will also be obvious that solenoid 68 will be deenergized so that its plunger 69 will be extended by spring action, with the result that as the radome slows down, it will move into the pocket 71 on lug 70 and the radome will be stopped in the proper rotational position to permit retraction.

Another result of the interruption of current flow in lead 114 by opening of switch 115 will be that normally closed relay 117 will not be energized so that its switch 119 will close. This will allow current flow in lead 127 to proceed past the point of attachment of branch lead 128, through switch 119 to a left-hand pair of contacts forming part of a double-pole, double throw switch 128. Switch 128 is of spring biased type similar to switch 111. The spring bias acts to move the switch contacts to the position shown in Figure 8. Switch 128 is also like switch 111 by reason of the fact that it has an actuator in the form of a projecting pin 130 as is best seen in Figure 3A. This pin is contacted by the cam 112 when the radome halves are fully nested. When in the position shown in Figure 8, and under the conditions just described wherein switch 119 is closed current flow will proceed through the left hand contacts of switch 129 to a second coil on relaysolenoid 59. This being energized will raise the plunger 61 out of latch keeper plate 60b, thus unlocking the radome halves and 16 from each other. Movement of plunger 61 upward will, of course, close switch 113 but its circuit through lead 114 is dead due to switch 115 being open so that the closing of switch 113 is of no consequence. At the same time, however, the current flow continues in lead 127 through brush and slip-ring set 66g to the reversing coils of motor 48 and thence to ground through lead 118. Reverse operation of motor 48 causes radome half 16 to rotate counterclockwise to nest with the half 15 and when it is moving into the fully nested position, cam 112 will actuate switch 129 so that it will break the connection between the left-hand pair of contacts and thereafter complete the connection of the right hand pair. Breaking of the left hand pair of contacts will stop current flow through lead 127 to motor 48 so that it will no longer reverse drive radome half 16 and at the same time the plunger of solenoid 59 drops into latch plate 60a to lock the radome halves against relative motion.

The circuit established when the right-hand contacts of switch 129 are closed may be traced on Figure 8 as follows: Starting at the switch 108, current will flow from distributor bus 73 through a lead 131, through brush and slip-ring set 66h, switch 129, a second brush and slipring set 66i, and switch 102 to radome selector valve 103. The valve 103 is thereby actuated to direct hydraulic fluid fiow through branched conduit 106 to the motors 34. Assuming that the down-locks 32 have been released, the operation of motors 34 will raise the frame 26-27-2S from horizontal to vertical position, thus retracting the radome. As the frame 26-27-28 reaches the fully retracted position, the uplatches 33 become effective again. Also the frame actuates switch 108 to its alternate position which first breaks the circuit causing radome retraction. With switch 108 in this new position, a circuit is established through lead 132 running through normally closed switch 92 of relay 91 to a spring biased, normally closed switch 134. From this switch the flow passes into door control valve 94. The valve is thereby actuated to direct pressure flow through conduit 98 to motors 37 to cause closing of the doors 13. As these doors reach the closed position, the switch 134 is contacted and opened to de-energize the door closing circuit. This completes the operating cycle and the main switch 72 may now be opened if it is desired to completely inactivate the system.

Although the present preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited thereto for the particular form which has been employed for purposes of illustration is susceptible to changes in form and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a radome installation, a body formed with an interior space, a radome normally too large to permit entrance into the interior space, a mounting means supporting the radome on the body adjacent said interior space. the said radome being comprised of collapsible skin structure, and means operatively associated with the radome skin structure adapted to collapse the structure whereby upon collapse the radome will fit within the interior space.

2. An antenna housing formed as a shell structure. and comprised of complementary shell parts, interconnecting means joining the shell parts adapted to permit relative movement of the parts from one position in which they cooperate to form a closed envelope to another position in which thev nest one within the other, and means for latching the shell parts against such movement.

3. A radome formed as a shell structure, and com rised of complementary shell parts, means joining the shell parts ada ted to permit re ative movement of the parts from one position in which thev cooperate to form a closed envelope to another position in which they nest one within the other, and reversible drive means connected to the radome parts, the connection being adapted to rotate the radome as a unit when the drive is in one direction and to move one shell part with respect to the other when the drive is reversed.

4. An antenna housing formed as a shell structure in the shape of a body of revolution comprised of complementary shell parts, means interconnecting the shell parts adapted to afford relative movement of the parts about the axis of the body from one position in which they cooperate to form a closed envelope to another position in which a first part is received within a second, drive means connected to one of the relatively movable shell parts adapted to drive it in rotation about the axis of the housing, and latch means carried by one shell part and adapted to lock it to the other whereby operation of the drive means will cause rotation of the housing as a unit.

5. A hollow radome formed of sectional skin parts, means joining the sectional skin parts adapted to permit relative movement of the parts from one position in which they cooperate to form a closed envelope to another position in which one part is received in another, a mounting for the radome adapted to provide for rotation of the radome thereon, latch means connected to lock the skin parts against relative rotation, and reversible drive means connected to move one of the skin parts about the axis of radome rotation whereby the sectional parts will be rotated as a unit in one position of the latch means and whereby in the other position of the latch means, one skin part will be rotated independently of the other.

6. In a radio installation, a body formed with an interior space, an antenna housing normally too large to permit entrance into the interior space, a mounting means supporting the housing on the body adjacent said interior space, the said housing being comprised of collapsible skin structure, means operatively associated with the housing skin structure adapted to collapse the structure to a size permitting entrance into the interior space, and means operatively connected to the supporting means adapted to retract the attached housing into the interior space.

7. In an aircraft, a body formed with an interior space, an antenna housing comprising an envelope formed of complementary shell parts, mounting means adapted to support the housing on the body, including individual attachment of the said complementary shell parts adapted to permit relative movement of one part with respect to the other whereby the said parts may assume a nested relationship, the said mounting means being further adapted to permit retraction of the housing into the said interior space, and means adapted to actuate the mounting means to cause the specified movements.

8. In a radome installation, a body formed with an interior space, a radome normally too large to permit entrance into the said interior space, a mounting means supporting the radome on the body adjacent said interior space, the said radome being comprised of complementary shell parts, support means joining the shell parts adapted to permit relative movement of the shell parts from the normal operative condition to a collapsed condition, and means operatively connected to move the radome on its mounting means whereby it may be retracted into the interior space when in its collapsed attitude.

9. In a retractable radome installation, a body formed with an interior space adapted to receive the radome, a rotatable radome having a shape which when conditioned for retraction must be properly orientated to permit entrance into said space, a retractable mounting for the radome attached to the said body adjacent the space, power means operatively connected to the radome adapted to drive it in rotation, indexing means carried by the mounting and engageable with the radome to stop its rotating movement at the point of prescribed orientation permitting entrance to the said interior space, and a power operating system controlling the operation of the power means and including means operatively associated with the said indexing means adapted to cause automatic operation thereof.

10. In a radome installation, a body formed with an interior space, a radome which is normally too large to permit entrance into the space, the said radome being composed of complementary shell parts, means joining the shell parts adapted to permit relative movement of the parts from one position in which they cooperate to form a closed envelope to another collapsed position in which a first shell part is received in a second, a mounting for the radome attached to the body, the said mounting providing an axis about which the radome is displaceable, a first actuating means attached to the shell parts adapted to cause relative movement between the parts, and a second actuating means operatively connected to the radome adapted to cause displacement of the radome whereby following movement of the shell parts to collapsed position, it may be retracted from an operating position to a stowed position within the said interior space.

11. In an antenna installation including a rotatable antenna housing of the type formed of complementary sections normally cooperating to form an enclosing envelope but which are relatively movable to secondary positions in which they nest for the purpose of reducing the overall dimension of the group, a first drive motor mounted on fixed structure connected to drive the said housing in rotation, a second drive motor mounted on fixed structure connected to drive one of the complementary sections independently of the remainder of the housing, and releasable latch means carried by the housing adapted to lock the relatively movable sections against such relative movement whereby when said latch is operative, operation of the second drive motor will drive the entire housing.

12. In an antenna installation including a rotatable antenna housing of the type formed of complementary sections normally cooperating to form an enclosing envelope but which are relatively movable to a secondary position in which they have a reduced overall dimension, a first drive motor mounted on fixed structure connected to drive the said housing in rotation, a second drive motor of reversible type mounted in driving connection with one of the complementary sections, releasable latch means carried by the housing adapted to lock the relatively movable sections against such relative movement whereby when said latch is locked, operation of the second drive motor will drive the entire housing, and power supply connections to said motors organized such that with said first drive motor in operation, the second drive motor will be caused to operate in direction to assist the first in driving said housing and when said second motor is operated in reverse direction, the latch means will be actuated conjointly from the power supply.

13. In a radio installation, a body formed with an interior space, an antenna housing which is normally too large to permit entrance into the space, the said housing being comprised of complementary shell portions, means joining the shell portions adapted to permit relative movement of the parts from one position in which they cooperate to form a closed envelope to a collapsed position, a mounting for the housing attached to the body, the said mounting providing an axis about which the housing is displaceable, a first actuating means operatively connected to the shell portions adapted to cause relative movement between the portions, a second actuating means operatively connected to the housing adapted to cause displacement of the housing whereby, following movement of the shell portions to collapsed position, it may be retracted from an operating position to a stowed position within the said interior space, a power operating system adapted to automatically provide sequential operation of the said actuating means comprising a reversing controller adapted when in one of its control positions to supply power to the said first actuating means, and a switch unit carried by said antenna housing adapted to be operated by the terminal movement thereof in reaching the collapsed position, the said switch unit being connected to the said second actuating means to supply power thereto to effect retraction of the housing.

14. In combination with an antenna housing adapted to be continuously rotated when the antenna is active and to be retracted at other times when the antenna is inactive, an operating system for the housing comprising a source of power, first motor means connected to the housing adapted to drive it in rotation, second motor means of reversible type connected to the housing adapted to move the housing between extended and retracted positions, supply lines extending from the source of power, a sequencing control unit operatively connected into one of said supply lines, the said control being adapted when in one of its control positions to control the supply of power to the second motor means to cause extension of the housing from its retracted position, a second control unit adapted to be actuated by the terminal movement of the housing upon reaching extended position, connections from the second control to a supply line and to the first motor means whereby the housing will be automatically driven in rotation after reaching fully extended position, the said sequenching control having a second control position, a relay operatively controlled from said second position adapted to interrupt the power flow to said first motor means, and a connection established thereby to direct power flow to said second motor means to cause operation in reverse direction to elfect retraction of the housing.

15. In a radio installation, an antenna housing adapted to be continuously rotated when the antenna is active and to be collapsed to smaller size and retracted when the antenna is inactive, an operating system for the housing comprising a source of power, first motor means connected to the housing adapted to drive it in rotation, a control for the system having selective control positions providing for extension and retraction of the housing, a second motor means operatively connected to the housing to effect collapse thereof to smaller size, a third motor means connected to the housing adapted to cause retraction or extension thereof, a circuit adapted to be energized from the power source in one control position of said controller containing a relay adapted to control a second circuit, the second circuit being organized to employ power from the source to the first motor means, the first said circuit being further adapted to supply power to the second motor means, a switch associated with the housing adapted to be actuated by the terminal collapsing movement thereof and a third power circuit containing the switch, the power source, and the third motor means.

16. In a radio installation, an antenna housing adapted to be continuously rotated when the antenna is active and to be collapsed to smaller size and retracted when the antenna is inactive, an operating system for the housing comprising a source of power, first motor means connected to the housing adapted to drive it in rotation, a control for the system having selective control positions providing for extension and retraction of the housing, a second motor means operatively connected to the housing adapted to expand it to full size from the collapsed condition, a third motor means connected to the housing adapted to cause extension from retracted position, a first circuit adapted to be energized from the power source in one control position of said controller, the said first circuit including the said third motor means, a second circuit from the power source containing a switch adapted to be closed by the terminal portion of the extension movement of the housing, the said second circuit being organized to supply power to the second motor means, and a third circuit containing a switch adapted to be closed by the terminal portion of the expansion movement of the housing, the said third circuit being further organized to supply power from the power source to the said first motor means.

No references cited. 

